about the forest

 The forest covers about 2,500 sqkm of a low ridgeline separating the valleys of the Castlereagh (Barr) to the north and the Talbragar River to the south. It is on Wiradjuri land and borders the First Nations people of the Kamilorai to the north. White settlers have encroached upon the edges of the forest but because of the thin, poor soils and denseness of the forest it has largely remained untouched and uninhabited apart from forestry operations in the 20th century, It was proclaimed a State Forest in 1916 and converted to a range of conservation areas in 2005.

The best map for the Goonoo Forest is the Goonoo Reserves Fire Management Strategy map of 2016 Available via https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research-and-publications/publications-search/goonoo-reserves-fire-management-strategy

A summary of the conserved areas of the forest can be found in the NPWS Statement of Management Intent at https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research-and-publications/publications-search/goonoo-national-park-and-state-conservation-area-statement-of-management-intent

The  Dubbo Field Naturalists and Conservation Society (https://www.dubbofieldnats.org.au/ ) have the best guide to the plants and animals you might expect to come across in the forest. Their publication “Plants and Animals of the Dubbo Region” is available to order online at https://www.dubbofieldnats.org.au/plants-animals-of-the-dubbo-region-book or for purchase at The Book Connection in Dubbo in person or via orders@bookconnection.com.au.

Nearly 700 species of plants have been identified in the forest. A comprehensive survey is available at https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/goonoo-reserves-vegetation-2018#

A flora list for the Dubbo and Central Western slopes region including the forest can be found at https://www.dubbofieldnats.org.au/assets/uploads/86/files/DUBBO%20REGION%20FLORA%20LIST%20June%202012.pdf

A survey of the fauna and flora of the forest is publicly available at ;

Brigalow Belt South Regional Assessment 2000  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259932843_PRELIMINARY_FAUNA_SURVEY_-_BRIGALOW_BELT_SOUTH_REGIONAL_ASSESSMENT_STAGE_1